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Medical Terminology
Dr. Rafal J. Al-Saigh
Basic Elements of a Medical Word
1. Word Root
2. Combining Form
3. Suffix
4. Prefix
These four parts of a word are known as
ELEMENTS.
4 Parts to a Medical Term
(1) Word Roots = base of a word The main part of a word which contains the basic meaning
usually refers to a body part (e.g. Cardi-Heart, Osteon-Bone).
(2) Combining Forms = is a Combining Vowel
(usually an “O”)that enable two parts
to be connected.
Used to connect a word root ---to--- a suffix
Used to connect a word root --- to --- a word root
Don’t use when suffix begins with a vowel (e.g. dermat/itis)
Use if suffix begins with a consonant (e.g. rhin/o/plasty)
(3) Prefixes = add at beginning of word root
(4) Suffixes = add at end of word root (usually with combining vowel)
1. Word Root Examples
Greek Word Word Root
Kardia (heart) Cardi
Thorax (chest) Thorac
Hepar (liver) Hepat
Nephros (kidney) Nephr
Osteon (bone) oste
Combining forms consist of a combining
vowel.
The combining vowel is usually an “o”, but
others may be used like (i, e, a, y).
Micr o
Word root Combining vowel
2. Combining Forms
When a word has more than one root, a
combining vowel is used to link the root to
each other.
osteoarthritis oste/ o / arthr/ itis
Word root
Combining
vowel Word root
suffix
Slashes separate elements
3. Prefixes Word parts placed at the beginning of word root to alter its
meaning or create a new word.
Usually indicates location (direction), number, or time
Often not need a combining vowel with Prefix
Meta = after or beyond (direction)
Trans = through (direction)
Intra = within (direction)
Contra = against (direction)
• A- mast -ia
without breast condition
• hyper- therm -ia
excessive heat condition
• intra- muscul -ar
within muscle relating to
Pre- (before) Preoperative
Post- (after) Postoperative
Homo- (same) Homocystinuria
Hypo- (below) Hypotension
under
9
Prefix Meaning
a
ab
ana
ante
anti
aut(o)
without
away from
up, toward
before
against
self
antenatal
10
Prefix Meaning
brachy
brady
contra
dys
hemi
hyper
hypo
short
slow
against
abnormal; difficult
half
above normal
below normal
brachycephaly
11
Prefix Meaning
inter
Iso
mal
meta
micr(o)
olig(o)
peri
between
equal; same
bad; inadequate
After
small
few; little; scanty
around; about; near
12
Prefix Meaning
pro
re
retro
semi
supra
tachy
un
before; forward
again; backward
behind; backward
half
above; over
fast
not
4. Suffixes
A suffix is added to the END of a word root or
to combining form to modify its meaning.
By adding a suffix to the end of a word root, we
create a noun or adjective with a different
meaning.
suffix often indicates the:
procedure
condition
disorder
disease
Noun suffixes
-ism --- condition (e.g. giantism)
-osis ---- abnormal condition (e.g. arteriosclerosis)
-itis ---- inflammation of (gastritis)
Adjective suffixes
-ous --- pertaining to (e.g. erythematous)
-ic ------ pertaining to (colposcopic)
Meanings of certain suffixes (derived from greek or latin language)
Arthr/o -centesis Arthrocentesis
joint puncture puncture of a joint
throac/o -tomy Thoracotomy
chest incision incision of the chest
gastr/o -megaly Gastromegaly
stomach enlargement enlargement of the
stomach
Meanings of certain suffixes (derived from modern language)
-al pertaining to dent/al
(pertaining to teeth)
-er one who speak/er
(one who speaks)
-able capable of being playable
(capable of being played)
If suffix begins with a consonant, therefore a combining vowel must be used between the word root and the suffix.
-scope (instrument to view) Gasteroscopy
-rrhexis (rupture) Angiorrhexis
-rrhea (flow or discharge) Rhinorrhea
If suffix begins with a vowel, therefore a combining vowel is NOT used between the word root and the suffix.
-algia (pain) Arthralgia
-edema (swelling) Papilledema
-uria (urine, urination) Heamaturia
-oma (tumor) Adenoma
(glandular tumor)
Suffix Meaning
-algia
-asthenia
-blast
-cidal
-clast
-crine
pain
breaking
weakness
immature; forming
destroying; killing
secreting
myasthenia
Suffix Meaning
-crit
-cyte
-cytosis
-derma
-ectasis
-ectomy
separate
cell
condition of cells
skin
expanding; dilating
removal of
Suffix Meaning
-emesis
-emia
-esthesia
-globin
-gram
-graph
-graphy
vomiting
blood
sensation
protein
a recording
recording instrument
process of recording
Suffix Meaning -ic
-ism
-itis
-kinesia
-logist
-lysis
-malacia
pertaining to
condition; disease
inflammation
movement
one who practices
destruction of
softening osteomalacia
Suffixes (mania-pathy) Suffix Meaning
-mania
-megaly
-oid
-opia
-ostomy
-para
-pathy
obsession
enlargement
like; resembling
vision
opening
bearing
disease
Suffix Meaning
-penia
-pepsia
-pexy
-phage
-phobia
-phonia
-phrenia
deficiency
digestion
fixation
eating; devouring
fear
sound
of the mind
Suffixes (phylaxis-rrhaphy) Suffix Meaning
-phylaxis
-plasty
-plegia
-pnea
-ptosis
-rrhagia
-rrhaphy
protection
surgical repair
paralysis
breath
falling down; drooping
heavy discharge
surgical suturing
Suffix Meaning
-rrhexis
-spasm
-stasis
-stenosis
-tomy
-trophy
-tropia
rupture
contraction
stopping; constant
narrowing
cutting operation
nutrition
turning
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